Charles Chandler, of the Charlotte Observer, reports former Carolina Panthers WR Patrick Jeffers will need to decide if he wants to continue his legal battle against the team after an NFL arbitrator ruled that the case does not belong in a courtroom. Two days after the March 25 arbitration ruling, Jeffers' claims against the Panthers were dismissed with prejudice. Jeffers accused former team physician Dr. Donald D'Alessandro of malpractice and negligence during an Aug. 2000 surgery and said the team was negligent in retaining the doctor because they knew he had a propensity to perform operations that exceeded the inform consent given by Carolina players.

Charles Chandler, of the Charlotte Observer, reports former Carolina Panthers WR Patrick Jeffers has voluntarily dismissed his medical malpractice claims against a former team physician, but his attorney said he plans to re-file the lawsuit within a year. The dismissal was filed "for technical, legal and procedural reasons." Jeffers filed a dismissal without prejudice, which gives him a year to re-file under court rules. The portion of the original lawsuit filed against the Panthers was not dismissed. That part will be heard by an NFL arbitrator, but has been put on hold by Jeffers. Jeffers claimed in the original lawsuit that his career was "destroyed" by an August 2000 knee surgery in which Dr. Donald D'Alessandro went beyond the bounds of the informed consent given. D'Alessandro and the Miller Clinic, which has since merged and been re-named OrthoCarolina, filed court papers denying Jeffers' claims.

Charles Chandler, reports for the Charlotte Observer, former Carolina Panthers WR Patrick Jeffers and his attorneys are turning to the North Carolina Supreme Court in an effort to get their case against the Panthers' former team doctor to court. They asked the Supreme Court to review the N.C. Court of Appeals decision last month to dismiss an appeal by Jeffers, saying the matter has "significant public interest." A lower court ruled Jeffers had to arbitrate the part of the case that pertains to the team, according to the grievance provisions of the NFL's collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Jeffers' petition to the state Supreme Court said the player's complaints against the Panthers are not covered by the CBA.

The Charlotte Observer reports former NFL WR Patrick Jeffers is appealing a judge's ruling in an attempt to have his case against the Carolina Panthers heard in court, as opposed to the NFL's grievance and arbitration system. Court papers filed by Jeffers' attorneys said the arbitration method provided by the NFL collective bargaining agreement does not allow them to acquire discovery documents, depositions and other evidence necessary to prepare their case. Jeffers' suit alleges that former Panthers orthopedist Dr. Donald D'Alessandro performed five unauthorized surgical procedures on Jeffers' knees during an August 2000 surgery that led to the end of his NFL career.

Charles Chandler, of the Charlotte Observer, reports a judge has ruled that if former NFL WR Patrick Jeffers pursues any action against the Carolina Panthers, he must do so via the NFL's grievance system rather than in court. Jeffers included the Panthers in a lawsuit he filed in Aug. 2003 against former Panthers' orthopedist Dr. Donald D'Alessandro and the Miller Orthopaedic Clinic. The Panthers filed a motion to require Jeffers to stand by the NFL collective-bargaining agreement, which says that player disputes with a team generally should be handled as a grievance before an arbitrator. Jeffers' attorney argued that the CBA didn't apply to the case. Jeffers' suit alleged that D'Alessandro performed five unauthorized surgical procedures on his knees during an August 2000 surgery that led to the premature end of his NFL career. D'Alessandro denied the allegations in court papers, saying he had appropriate authorization for all procedures performed on Jeffers.

Charles Chandler, of the Charlotte Observer, reports former Carolina Panthers WR Patrick Jeffers filed a lawsuit against the former team orthopedist, the Panthers and the Miller Orthopaedic Clinic on Tuesday, August 12. Jeffers alleges medical malpractice and negligence by Dr. Donald D'Alessandro, claiming he added five procedures to an Aug. 20, 2000, surgery without Jeffers' informed consent. The suit contends the procedures led to the end of Jeffers' NFL career.

Steve Reed reports for the Gaston Gazette that Carolina Panthers rookie RB DeShaun Foster (knee), who is out for the remainder of the year, has decided to undergo microfracture surgery on his left knee after seeking a second opinion. Foster had surgery before the season after a piece of cartilage had torn off under his kneecap. The scar tissue never formed after the surgery so Foster continued to have pain and swelling in the knee when he ran. The team doesnít believe it compares to the same surgery WR Patrick Jeffers had in 2000. Heíll likely have the surgery in the next few weeks.

The Charlotte Observer reports former Carolina Panthers WR Patrick Jeffers (knee) said he is not done with his comeback. One day after being released by the Panthers, he said he will remain in Charlotte to continue his rehab and see if he can eventually catch on with another team. ďAs long as Iím getting better, Iíll keep doing it,Ē Jeffers said. ďItís certainly my goal to see where I can get health-wise and speed-wise and see what happens from there.Ē

Panthers.com reports the Carolina Panthers have released WR Patrick Jeffers. "Everyone in the Panthers organization thinks the world of Patrick, and this was a very difficult decision, but one we had to make at this time," said GM Marty Hurney.